Dr. Carol Taylor, president-elect at Evangel University, lights the igNIGHT flame to signal the beginning of a new academic year and era at Evangel University.

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igNIGHT ceremony signals new year, new era at Evangel University

August 28, 2013 | Ian Richardson

With hundreds of glow sticks shining, a sea of maroon-clad students gathered on the Evangel campus lawn Tuesday night to celebrate a new beginning with a new tradition.

Featuring the EU drum line, the Evangel fight song and a ceremonial flame lit by President-elect Carol Taylor and student leaders, the event, known as igNIGHT, brought students, faculty and staff together to kick off the fresh school year as a united community.

“We wanted to establish igNIGHT as an academic ceremony to bring the whole campus together,” says Christy Rowden, student activities director. “With the first year of the consolidated Evangel, we wanted to set the tone for all new, current and transfer students.”

Javier Rodriguez, student body president, and Anna Schimenti, student body vice president, spoke at the ceremony, introducing Evangel’s administrators and praying over the campus. Dr. Taylor also spoke, sharing her vision for the future of the consolidated university.

The igNIGHT planning committee hopes this event will be a beginning-of-the-year tradition for many years to come.

“We have never had a campus-wide ceremony designed specifically to kick off the first day of classes,” says Becky Spain, director of retention and one of the organizers of the event. “We hope that the ceremony will soon become something that students do not want to miss as they begin each new academic year, and that even alumni will attend when they are in the area.”

About Evangel

Evangel is an accredited, liberal arts university with more than 100 academic programs on the cutting edge of today's professional fields. Our commitment to the integration of faith, learning and life attracts students from a wide variety of Christian denominational backgrounds who have a strong commitment to academics with a desire to combine their Christian faith with every aspect of their lives.